Cushion and method of forming the same.



c. P. McnrONALD. y CUSHION AND METHOD 0F FORNIING THE SAME,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23- l9l5.

1 300,7853. Patented Apf;15,1919.

- if A f f CHARLES 1?. MeDoNALD,

oF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CUSHION AND METHOD OF FORMING- THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. l5, 1919.

Application filed July 23, 1915. Serial No. 41,460.

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES P. MoDoN- ALD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the' county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushions and Methods of Forming the Same, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to the manufacture of cushions, such for instance as are e1nployed, for vehicle seats, and it is the object Yof the invention to expedite the process of manufacture, and also to obtain an improved construction. To -this end the invention comprises the novel method and construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspectiveJ view of the cover blank; Fig. 2 is a cross section through the jig or forming frame, showing the tufting buttons in engagement therewith and the cover blank in position;

Fig. 3 is a view. similar to Fig. 2 after the lling operation;

Fig. 4; is a similar View after the pressing operation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the manner of clenching the Shanks of the tufting buttons;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 9. showing the manner of disengaging the cushion from the jig' and Fig. 7? is a cross section through the completed cushion. e

In the manufacture of cushions it is usual to place the top o f the cover in a suitable jig,

which has clamping means for positioning the tufting buttons. The cover is then engaged with the shanks of said buttons, after which the filling material is placed thereon, al bottom section of the cover placed on the filling material, a follower placed on the bottom section, and the.y cushion is com'- pressed and clamped. j After this` it is necessary to attachy the cover top and bottom sections by hand stitching around the margins thereof, which, operation is one requiring considerable time forits `performance and also skilled labor. With thepresent invention this hand stitching'` operation is climi nated and therbottom is formed by overla ping sections, which ma be machine stitched to the top' prior to t e filling, and

preferably by the same seam which attaches the skirt to the top. The overlapping sections are secured by the clenched Shanks of the tufting buttons, and therefore no further operation is [required for securing the Samet l As shown in Fig. l, the cover blank is first formed of a top section A to which is attached the skirt B, which depends from the cover and incloses the spring frame. During the operation of stitching the skirt to the cover top, a plurality of bottom sections -C C C2 and C3 are secured by the same seam, this being preferably formed of burlap or other suitable material. One of the sections, such as C, is preferably of an area equal to the cushion, while the other sections, which are secured to the several sides, are of lesser width to extend beyond the rst row of tufting buttons.

The blanks formed as above described are next engaged with a jig, having a bottom member I) provided with a series of clamps E for holding the tufting buttons with their Shanks F extending upward. The reversed cover top is pressed down over the Shanks F which perforate the same, and the skirt B is turned downward as Shown. A frame G surrounds the cover, this being preferably formed in two U-shaped sections which are hinged at G to the bottom section D, so that they may be turned back, as shown in Fig. 6. The hair or other filling material is then placed upon the cover top, after which the bottom sections C C etc. which were originally turned outward, are folded over the filling, the wide section C bein the last one folded down. The follower His then placed in the jig and the'latter is engaged with a pressfwhich compresses the filling in the cushion. The jig is then clamped by Suitable means, such as indicated at I, after which it is removed from the press and the shanks F which engage the apertures J` in the follower are clenched, as shown in Fig. 5. The sections of the frame G are then turned back to facilitate the disengagement ofthe cushion, and the skirt B is reversed, which completes the structure.

The process as above described is one which is adapted to be carried out by a series of workmen successively performing their labor upon the work, which is carried by a traveling conveyer. Thus, one workman can place the cover blank in engagement with the jig, another place the lling ma*I y to the first workman and the process ilepeateel.

One of the advantages of the improvement is that by eliminating the handstitching operation the Whole Vprocess may be carried out more expeditiously, for it is obvious that much more time is required for stitching the bottom to the top than for any of the other operations. ik 'further advantage is the reduction in the cost by the elimination yof this hand stitching operation, which requires a skilled Workman. The machine stitching of ythe bottom sections to the top is much more rapidly and economically performed and in fact does not in any Way increase the cost, as it is always necessary vto stitch the skirt to the cover and the same seam may secure the bottom. Furthermore, the completed cushion is better and stronger than the constructions heretofore made, for the overlapping Iflaps give an additional reinforcement.

What I claim as my invention is l. A cushion cover blank, comprising a' top section, and a plurality of bottom sections marginally attached to different sides of said top section and adapted to oifcrlap each other.

2.`A cushion -cover blank, comprising a top section, a skirting attached thereto, and a plurality ofbottom sections securedV by the Yattachment of said skirt to said top section on different sides of the latter and adapted to Voverlap each other.

A cushion cover blank, comprising a top section, a skirt stitched thereto and extendingaround all the sides thereof and a plurality of bottom sections secured to the several sides by the attachment of said skirt and adapted to overlap each other.

4. A cushion, comprising a cover having a top section and a plurality of bottom sections marginally attached to different sides oil the top and overlapping eachother, a compressedV `illing Within said cover, and tufting buttons khailing shanks extending through said top, `l`Iilling and overlapping Abottom fiaps and clenched to secure the same.

5. A cushion com risin a cover havin@- 7 b atop section, a .skirt stitched thereto, a plurality of bottom sections secured by the stitching of said skirt on different sides of said top, said bottom sections overlapping each other, a compressed iilling Within said cushion, and tutt-ing buttons Vhaving the shanks thereof engaging the `overlapping portions of said bottom sections and clenched to secure the same. Y Y

6. A cushion, comprisingacover having a top section and a skirt and -a plurality o'r' bottom sections attached to diferentzsides of said. to) section and overla inwea'ch other a iilling Within said cover and tutinvnieans means passing throughsaid top section, lillf ing and bottom sections,

S. ln a cushion, the combination with a top piece, a bottom piece, padding between said top piece and bottom piecc,rand a flexible strip secured to the edge of said top piece and arranged tolap past theadj'acent edge of said bottom piece, of' fastening devices to connect said bottom piece to said top piece and to connect-said strip to said bottom piece. Y y

ln testin'iony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot tivo Witnesses. Y i

CHARLES P. MCDONALD.

Witnesses Y JAMES P. BARRY, PHYLLis COBURN,

Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Gommssioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C, i 

